Abuja — The ability of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC) to curtail the production and supply of fake and adulterated food and drugs within Nigeria and the west African sub-region has been described as the highest level of commitment to the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs).

Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Akio Tanaka stated this when he paid a courtesy call on the NAFDAC director general, Professor Dora Akunyili in Abuja.

Tanaka who commended the level of sanity in the pharmaceutical and allied products markets stressed that the international community was delighted at visible reformation of the sub-sector.He added that all hands must be on deck to maintain the control of the food and drug market "since Nigeria is a dominant economic force within the region and beyond."

The Japanese ambassador noted that the objective of his visit was to identify and pursue closer trade ties with Nigeria, particularly in the area of investing in pharmaceutical and food production in the country.

He said that this would not only strengthen Nigeria's economic position in the West African sub region but also deepen bilateral relation with Japan.

In her remark, Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Dora Akunyili said the agency was prepared to partner with Japan to speed up closer business relations between the two countries wherever necessary.

While describing Japanese initiative to invest in food and drug industries in Nigeria as a positive development, she noted that the agency was pleased at such move especially because the country has no track record of breaching government regulation at any level.She added that no Japanese company in the country has a record of manufacturing or supplying fake drugs.